Bundaberg South State School student Zac Ambertel gets some tips from former NRL player and Central Queensland NRL Bid representative Justin Loomans.Max Fleet BUNNRLBUNDABERG students turned into footy stars yesterday, showing off their skills at a development workshop hosted by the CQ NRL bid crew.Students at Bundaberg South State School and Bundaberg High School were given some rugby league tips by former Cowboys and Rabbitohs player Justin Loomans."They were wonderful ambassadors," Bundaberg South principal Chris Brittain said of the visitors."All the kids were totally engaged and enthralled."All the kids had a great time."

"Bundaberg SHS U/14s after a great session today. Followed up by a fun visit if the QR National Schools Program to Bundaberg South Primary School. Should be good story in the Bundaberg NewsMail tomorrow."

Hervey Bay’s Joshua Sander is one of many junior players on the Fraser Coast who could one day be playing for Central Queensland in the NRL.Alistair BrightmanONE of rugby league's favourite sons believes a National Rugby League team based in Central Queensland would do wonders for the Fraser Coast.While in Maryborough yesterday, retired Gold Coast Titans star Preston Campbell said if the CQ NRL Bid was awarded an NRL licence it would be beneficial to regional junior players wanting to play at the elite level."I think it would be great to have a team around this area," he said."You look at Brisbane down south and the Cowboys up north, that's a long way in-between."You do get a rare guy from around here that gets to go down (to Brisbane) and show their wares, whether it's at summer training or with a squad, but it would be good to see if there were more opportunities for them."Obviously more opportunities gives them more of an opportunity to make it."Central Queensland is among several locations vying for an NRL franchise, including Perth, Ipswich and a second Brisbane-based team.Although it has produced current NRL players Nick Emmett and Maurice Blair, the Fraser Coast isn't regarded as a fertile breeding ground for rugby league prospects.But Campbell believed a Central Queensland team would quickly change that."It would give the young fellas in and around the area something to aspire too," he said."They'll know that when they're playing for their local club, their community and their families."A country boy himself hailing from Inverell in northern New South Wales, Campbell said another reason why the NRL should consider expanding to Central Queensland was so it could curtail any future plans the AFL might have of making a push into the rugby league heartland."There is always going to be talk about that and the AFL is of course massive and has a lot more money than rugby league," he said. "But hopefully when they (ARL commission) have the TV (rights) talks, that brings a boost to the game."But he said no amount of money would ever see the AFL win over the hearts and minds of rugby league diehards."The AFL can afford to give all these giveaways to kids and that's what draws them in, but the thing rugby league has on its side is that people still love the game and they want to play it," he said."They feel it in their hearts and that's what keeps them turning up."

The commision now running Rugby League in Australia need 3 new teams in the NRL, but only have room for 2. Central Coast could bring a lot to Rugby league with the money in the area and the amount of juniors there. Central Queensland for the reasons you have stated and Perth. 1 team should go from the present make up of the NRL, but which one?
Gold Coast Titans would be the obvious choice with all there money problems, but the commision need them to kill off the threat of Aussie Rules on the Gold Coast. Cronulla were candidates for the chop, or relocation last season, but appear now to be on the climb. Which ever 2 they chose it is for sure going to to disappoint the one team that doesn't get selected.

CQ Capras chief executive Brenton Williamson is counting down the days before the first television transmission of an Intrust Super Cup fixture from Browne Park.

"It is an experience we have never been able to offer before," he said.

While the Capras enjoyed good corporate support, to be able to provide a little extra in the form of a live game being beamed across the state is a bonus.

In the past, clubs in the south-east of the state have had the luxury of having a couple of games televised from their home ground and this provides the bonus of being able to assure sponsors of televised matches being screened and their company name relayed.

"For clubs in the south-east corner the likelihood of televised games increases," he said.

"Our sponsors haven't had the same exposure for their signage."

With less than two weeks to the big day on June 17, Williamson is busy ensuring the Capras make the most of this unique opportunity.

"Capricorn Enterprises will be the game day sponsor," he announced.

"The club is very grateful to Capricorn Enterprises."

A part of the match day promotion for Capricorn Enterprises will be having their logo painted on the Browne Park playing surface.

"It is a great opportunity to be live on Channel 9," he said.

Williamson is confident the game being live will not have a detrimental effect on the match day attendance. In fact Williamson believed the game would produce a bumper crowd with a total of 3000 spectators confidently expected.

The Capras CEO is also aware the success of the live game will assist the CQ NRL Bid.

Last weekend the area expected to feature as CQ's main rival Ipswich was the feature game against Northern Pride. The match lacked atmosphere with a small crowd in attendance.

"If we can get 3000 people at Browne Park and they are vocal it will be great," he said.

"We want people in Central Queensland to vote with feet."

The televised match against Norths Devils only provides a part of the afternoon's entertainment with Gladstone visiting for matches against Rockhampton in both A-grade and under-20s.

It is almost like a trial run on Sunday for the Capras as they face the Wynnum Manly Sea Eagles at Browne Park.

The match is a test to see how far the young CQ team has progressed after the drubbing it received from the Sea Eagles in the first round.

Players who were a part of that severe mauling will be looking to exact revenge on a very good Wynnum side.

Surprisingly the Sea Eagles suffered a few reversals in recent weeks but that could provide the hunger to get back on track.

Williamson was looking at a crowd of 2000 for the game with the CQ public wanting to assist the Capras in setting the records straight.

Sunday's game is at 2.30pm with Junior Capras trial games taking place throughout the day from 8am.

Great News Central Queensland! The Stadium that is vitally important to the CQ NRL Bid’s success in acquiring a NRL license has been confirmed by the State Government. Last week, the CQ NRL Bid Chairman, Geoff Murphy and I, met with the State Government Minister for Sport, Steve Dickson, in his office at Parliament House in Brisbane, and with his Director General Mr Rhys Turner. Minister Dickson delivered this great news to us personally. “If the CQ NRL Bid acquires a NRL License, the Government will provide the compliant Stadium, and you can guarantee this to the NRL – it will happen – it is written in stone” Minister Dickson said last week.

A recently published media article which stated that the NRL would not be expanding seems to have gained some credence, especially amongst some Bid sceptics. The well known and respected author of this material writes an opinion piece in the local press and that is exactly what it is – HIS OPINION.

The CQ NRL Bid has today announced the U/13s and U/14s squads (listed below) for the 2012 CQ NRL Bid Junior Development Program. Building on the success and momentum of last year’s inaugural program, the CQ NRL Bid will bring together 56 junior players from around CQ to participate in the program.

CQ NRL Bid Development Manager Walson Carlos said that this year’s program will allow the CQ NRL Bid to build on last year’s highly successful program.
“The CQ NRL Bid Junior Development Program is about so much more than producing good footballers. The program takes a holistic approach to the development of these young elite athletes and incorporates key elements like player welfare education, expert nutritional advice & media training. It is important that the players come away from the program having not only improved their rugby league capabilities, but also having grown as people.”

This year’s program will see the two teams embark on a mid-October Southern Tour in which they will play games against Keebra Park SHS (Gold Coast) and Marsden SHS (Brisbane). The CQ NRL Bid are also hopeful of staging a two-game home series and are currently in negotiations with several clubs and schools to try and make this happen. The home games would be played at Rockhampton and Gladstone. Walson Carlos expected more details to be finalised very soon.
“We (CQ NRL Bid) will have some very big announcements relating to the CQ NRL Bid Junior Development Squad over the next month and we are excited by where the program is headed this year.”